The annual Wellington Open at Easter was particularly eventful this year. Highest rated of the 28 contestants was visiting German FM Paul Zwahr. He duly won his first two games then defeated local favourite, IM Anthony Ker in round 3. In round four Zwahr was in turn toppled by another Wellingtonian, former New Zealand Champion, FM Scott Wastney. This left Wastney leading alone on 4/4 ahead of Wellington Club President Ross Jackson on 3½ and several players on 3. As a mid-field ranked player Jackson was already having a great tournament and his draw with Wastney in round five was another fine result. Going into the final round Wastney was still leading by half a point from Jackson, Ker and current New Zealand Champion, FM Mike Steadman from Auckland. Wastney drew with Ker, allowing Jackson to catch him in first place on 5/6 with a huge upset win over Steadman. Ker finished alone in third on 4½.
Todays game is Wastney's win with the black pieces over Steadman from the third round.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7
A move order in the Queen's Gambit Declined designed to prevent Bg5 until White has developed his king's knight. 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.cxd5 ---
Inflicting an isolated d-pawn on Black. 8.--- Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.a3 Nc6 11.Bd3 Bb6 12.0-0 d4 13.Qc2 h6 14.e4!? ---
Thwarting Black's attempt to liquidate his isolated pawn. The move is not without risk as the d-pawn is now passed. 14.--- Bg4 15.Nd2 ---
Following a game Dreev-Short 2002 that ended in a draw, though in a later game against the same opponent Dreev chose 15 Ne5 here. Exchanging a defender of the d4 pawn seems more consistent with White's strategy. 15.---Rc8 16.Nc4?! ---
In the aforementioned game, Dreev played 16 Qa4 whereas the text allows an awkward pin. 16.--- Na5! 17.Rac1 Be6 18.Qa4 ---
Allowing Black to exchange away the blockade of the d-pawn, although the alternative of 18 b3 Nxc4 19 bxc4 leaving two weak pawns to Black's one was hardly appetising. 18.--- Nxc4 19.Bxc4 Bxc4 20.Rxc4 Qe7 21.f3? ---
Opening up the a7-g1 diagonal means that ...d3+ becomes a recurring tactical theme, which Black immediately exploits to force the white bishop to a passive position. 21 Re1 was better. 21.--- Qf6! 22.Bc1 ---
If 22 Bg3? then 22... d3+ wins the pawn on b2. Next Black forces an exchange of rooks improving the relative activity of his remaining pieces. 22.--- Qe6! 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Qd1? ---
Necessary was 24 Kh1 removing the discovered check. 24.--- Rc2! 25.Kh1 ---
If 25 Qxc2?? d3+ wins the queen and 25 Qd3 Qg6! 26 g3 Qc6 27 Bd2 Rxb2 is no improvement on the text. Notice that Black never actually played ...d3+ but instead derived greater benefit from it hanging over White like the sword of Damocles. As Nimzowitsch said “the threat is stronger than the execution!” 25.--- Qc4 26.b4 Qa2!?
Adding mating threats to his positional trumps. The computer prefers to cash in with the immediate 26...d3! threatening 27...d2 winning a piece. After 27 Bd2 Qa2 28 Bf4 d2 White has no choice but to give up the bishop. 27.Bf4 Rxg2 28.a4 Rg6 29.Bg3 a6 30.b5 axb5 31.axb5 Qc4 32.Qb1 Qe2 33.Rf2 Qe3 34.Qf1 d3
At last the pawn advances to stretch the defence to breaking point. 35.Ra2 d2 36.Ra1 h5!
White resigns as he is helpless against h5-h4xg3.
Surprises at Wellington Open
Problem: Black to play and mate in 3.
The annual Wellington Open at Easter was particularly eventful this year. Highest rated of the 28 contestants was visiting German FM Paul Zwahr. He duly won his first two games then defeated local favourite, IM Anthony Ker in round 3. In round four Zwahr was in turn toppled by another Wellingtonian, former New Zealand Champion, FM Scott Wastney. This left Wastney leading alone on 4/4 ahead of Wellington Club President Ross Jackson on 3½ and several players on 3. As a mid-field ranked player Jackson was already having a great tournament and his draw with Wastney in round five was another fine result. Going into the final round Wastney was still leading by half a point from Jackson, Ker and current New Zealand Champion, FM Mike Steadman from Auckland. Wastney drew with Ker, allowing Jackson to catch him in first place on 5/6 with a huge upset win over Steadman. Ker finished alone in third on 4½.
Todays game is Wastney's win with the black pieces over Steadman from the third round.
1.d4 d5
2.c4 e6
3.Nc3 Be7
A move order in the Queen's Gambit Declined designed to prevent Bg5 until White has developed his king's knight.
4.Nf3 Nf6
5.Bf4 0-0
6.e3 c5
7.dxc5 Bxc5
8.cxd5 ---
Inflicting an isolated d-pawn on Black.
8.--- Nxd5
9.Nxd5 exd5
10.a3 Nc6
11.Bd3 Bb6
12.0-0 d4
13.Qc2 h6
14.e4!? ---
Thwarting Black's attempt to liquidate his isolated pawn. The move is not without risk as the d-pawn is now passed.
14.--- Bg4
15.Nd2 ---
Following a game Dreev-Short 2002 that ended in a draw, though in a later game against the same opponent Dreev chose 15 Ne5 here. Exchanging a defender of the d4 pawn seems more consistent with White's strategy.
15.---Rc8
16.Nc4?! ---
In the aforementioned game, Dreev played 16 Qa4 whereas the text allows an awkward pin.
16.--- Na5!
17.Rac1 Be6
18.Qa4 ---
Allowing Black to exchange away the blockade of the d-pawn, although the alternative of 18 b3 Nxc4 19 bxc4 leaving two weak pawns to Black's one was hardly appetising.
18.--- Nxc4
19.Bxc4 Bxc4
20.Rxc4 Qe7
21.f3? ---
Opening up the a7-g1 diagonal means that ...d3+ becomes a recurring tactical theme, which Black immediately exploits to force the white bishop to a passive position. 21 Re1 was better.
21.--- Qf6!
22.Bc1 ---
If 22 Bg3? then 22... d3+ wins the pawn on b2. Next Black forces an exchange of rooks improving the relative activity of his remaining pieces.
22.--- Qe6!
23.Rxc8 Rxc8
24.Qd1? ---
Necessary was 24 Kh1 removing the discovered check.
24.--- Rc2!
25.Kh1 ---
If 25 Qxc2?? d3+ wins the queen and 25 Qd3 Qg6! 26 g3 Qc6 27 Bd2 Rxb2 is no improvement on the text. Notice that Black never actually played ...d3+ but instead derived greater benefit from it hanging over White like the sword of Damocles. As Nimzowitsch said “the threat is stronger than the execution!”
25.--- Qc4
26.b4 Qa2!?
Adding mating threats to his positional trumps. The computer prefers to cash in with the immediate 26...d3! threatening 27...d2 winning a piece. After 27 Bd2 Qa2 28 Bf4 d2 White has no choice but to give up the bishop.
27.Bf4 Rxg2
28.a4 Rg6
29.Bg3 a6
30.b5 axb5
31.axb5 Qc4
32.Qb1 Qe2
33.Rf2 Qe3
34.Qf1 d3
At last the pawn advances to stretch the defence to breaking point.
35.Ra2 d2
36.Ra1 h5!
White resigns as he is helpless against h5-h4xg3.
0-1
Solution: 1 ... Bc5+! 2 Kh1 (2 Qxc5 Rd1#; 2 Rf2 Qxf2+ 3 Kh1 Qg2#) Qf1+ 3 Rg1 (3 Kh2 Qxg2#) Qxg1#.